Franking for E-commerce Brands: Is It Worth It?

As an e-commerce brand, every decision you make affects your bottom line. From product sourcing to packaging, shipping, and customer service, you’re constantly balancing efficiency and cost. But one area that many small and medium-sized online retailers overlook is how they send their post – particularly when it comes to franking.

So, is using a franking machine actually worth it for e-commerce businesses? Let’s break it down.

What Is Franking?

Franking is an alternative to using stamps or online postage. Instead of applying stamps, you print a postage impression directly onto your mail using a franking machine. These impressions are accurate, trackable, and often cheaper than traditional postage options.

For e-commerce businesses, especially those regularly sending out packages, letters, or returns, franking can streamline shipping while reducing costs.

Mailcoms Mailsend Pro Franking Machine

Key Benefits of Franking for E-commerce Brands

1. Lower Postage Costs

Royal Mail offers discounted rates for franked mail, with the latest Royal Mail Postage Rates 2025 offering up to 15% compared to stamped postage. For brands sending dozens or hundreds of parcels per week, these savings add up fast.

2. A More Professional Image

Customers do judge by appearances. Franked mail looks neater, more official, and more trustworthy than hand-applied stamps. It’s a small touch that reinforces your brand’s reliability.

3. Streamlined Mailroom Operations

With a franking machine, you can process mail quickly and conveniently in your office, eliminating the need for constant trips to the Post Office and saving you time and money. You can top up credit online, weigh items accurately, and print labels in-house – all of which save your team even more valuable time.

4. Better Tracking & Reporting

Modern franking machines provide analytics and reporting, helping you track your postage spend across different shipping classes or departments. If you’re scaling or managing multiple product lines, this data is invaluable.

Things to Consider

Upfront & Ongoing Costs

Yes, there’s an investment. You’ll need to either purchase or rent a franking machine, buy consumables like ink and labels, and schedule occasional maintenance (usually included in service contracts). However, most businesses recover this investment within months due to the postage savings alone.

Volume Threshold

Franking becomes most cost-effective when you’re sending at least a few parcels or letters per day. The more you send, the more you save. As a result, we have specific models for specific volumes. A mid volume franking machine such as the Parcelsend Speed is not going to be suitable for small volume senders. That is where the Mailsend Prime comes in. So consider which franking machine would be best suited based on your volumes.

Ideal E-commerce Use Cases for Franking

✔ Subscription box businesses sending monthly packages

✔ Online retailers with daily order fulfilment

✔ Brands offering product samples, catalogues or returns labels

✔ Companies managing promotional direct mail campaigns

Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?

If you’re an e-commerce brand handling a steady volume of post, franking is absolutely worth it. It gives you control, savings, and speed – all while elevating your brand’s professionalism.

At Mailcoms, we offer a range of franking machines. If you are interested in getting a franking machine or wish to upgrade to a Mailmark franking machine with even lower prices available, then please view our franking machine page here or call us today on 01543 572 776.

We are a Royal Mail Authorised Independent Inspector & Maintainer of Franking Machines with over 20,000 customers nationwide and we can supply you with our very own range of models.

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